The Microspring Company, Inc.

Baxter International Inc.

William S Hodgson

Russell Pflueger

Jagdish C Dhuwalia

A method and apparatus for producing a guide wire including a core wire surrounded by a heat shrunk polymeric plastic sleeve of variable wall thickness. The core wire is inserted into the sleeve, and heat is applied to successive axially spaced annular zones of the sleeve to heat shrink it around the core. The distal portion of the sleeve and core wire are moved relative to the heat zones at one rate of speed, and the proximal portion of the sleeve is moved relative to the heat zones at a different rates of speed. The thickness of the heat shrunk sleeve is varied by controlling the rates of speed such that a variable and controlled tension is applied to the sleeve as it is being heat shrunk.

Guide wire

A guidewire having a centrally located core wire about which is mounted a single outer helical coil spring. The core wire is typically longer than the outer helical coil spring, with the helical coil spring and core wire having common distal ends. The spring is brazed at both its distal and proximal end to the core wire. The distal brazing of the core wire and helical coil springs is rounded. A second small radiopaque helical coil spring is fitted in the distal end of the outer helical coil spring and may be brazed to the core wire and outer helical coil spring.

Dual coil guidewire with radiopaque distal tip

A torque transmitter includes three coaxial helically wound springs of different inner and outer diameters positioned relative to each other such that the inner and outer generally circumferential surfaces of the center spring form interference fits with, respectively, the outer generally circumferential surface of the inner spring and the inner generally circumferential surface of the outer spring. The inner and outer springs are wrapped in one direction and the center spring is wrapped in the opposite direction.

Method of making a torque transmitter

A torque transmitter includes three coaxial helically wound springs of different inner and outer diameters positioned relative to each other such that the inner and outer generally circumferential surface of the center spring form interference fits with, respectively, the outer generally circumferential surface of the inner spring and the inner generally circumferential surface of the outer spring. The inner and outer springs are wrapped in one direction and the center spring is wrapped in the opposite direction.

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Cohasset, MA, United States of America

William S Hodgson